Please be aware of some suspicious individuals who are believed to have been involved in a distraction burglary in Wybunbury at approx 18:00 on 17/05/2011.
The householder is distracted by a male who may make an offer of carrying out gardening work or make an enquiry with the householder about a lost dog/puppy which he doesn't have a lead for whilst two other males enter the property and remove items.
One of the males is described as being approx 6ft 3 with an Irish accent wearing a checked shirt. There is not a description available of the other two males.
The males are believed to drive a Black/Grey 57 plate BMW vehicle so are mobile and as such I am sending this alert to the area as a whole.
A further call at the time reported 3 males in a BMW acting suspiciously going into residents gardens and appearing to look at houses.
Please be aware of these individuals and make members aware to be on the look out for any suspicious behaviour of this nature. If you have any vulnerable neighbours please keep an eye out for them in relation to any unusual callers that they might have. If anyone does notice anything out of the ordinary or suspicious behaviour in their area please contact the police asap via 0845 458 0000 to report.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
From the home watch desk
At a recent meeting I attended it was highlighted that during the month of June traditionally there can be an increase in domestic burglary in the Crewe & Nantwich area. This can often be due to sneak in burglaries which are more prevalent during warmer weather due to easier access via unlocked doors and open windows. From previous alerts you will be aware of the crime prevention advice in relation to these types of crimes.
In April 2011 43% of burglaries in a dwelling in this area were sneak in burglaries which helps to highlight how commonly this is used as a method of entry to people's homes. Many of us have excellent door and window locks available and levels of security that would help to prevent this type of incident but unfortunately despite publicity in recent years people still fall foul of this type of burglary for various reasons, particularly at this time of year. Sneak in burglaries are an ideal option for opportunist thieves as they take minimum effort on their part as they can be in and out of properties in a matter of seconds via convenient entry points. They do not need to physically break in which would raise the chances of them being spotted and increase the risk of them leaving behind something of evidential value and they do not need to carry or find anything that could assist them in carrying out these crimes.
Secondly, items such as fishing tackle and bicycles appear to have been some of the most common items removed in shed breaks in the area. Some of the thefts from sheds will also be the result of sneak in thefts where similarly to houses sheds are accidentally left insecure after use during the day and overnight. It is important to lock your shed when it is not in use. If you do have such items try to take extra precautions to protect them. If items are of particular value ensure they are insured. Consider property marking these items and taking a log of what you have for insurance and identification purposes should they be stolen. Items of value can be further secured within sheds and outbuildings by chaining them to a fixed anchor point on a floor or wall or they can be locked into a metal cage or storage box to increase the layers of security. It is worthwhile to lock up your bicycle even if it is within your shed or garden - the majority of bikes are taken from private property as opposed to public places as many people would imagine. In essence public places have greater natural surveillance and we tend to lock up our items at these sites whereas at home many of us will wheel our bikes into the garden and prop up against a wall - with less natural surveillance these can be an easy items to take for an opportunist thief as they are both valuable and provide a ready made means of escape for them.
As home watch coordinators and members you will be more than aware of the above issues as they are regularly highlighted. However, these types of crimes continue to occur throughout the area as a whole so can I ask you to reiterate this message as June approaches and also share with friends and family members.
At a recent meeting I attended it was highlighted that during the month of June traditionally there can be an increase in domestic burglary in the Crewe & Nantwich area. This can often be due to sneak in burglaries which are more prevalent during warmer weather due to easier access via unlocked doors and open windows. From previous alerts you will be aware of the crime prevention advice in relation to these types of crimes.
In April 2011 43% of burglaries in a dwelling in this area were sneak in burglaries which helps to highlight how commonly this is used as a method of entry to people's homes. Many of us have excellent door and window locks available and levels of security that would help to prevent this type of incident but unfortunately despite publicity in recent years people still fall foul of this type of burglary for various reasons, particularly at this time of year. Sneak in burglaries are an ideal option for opportunist thieves as they take minimum effort on their part as they can be in and out of properties in a matter of seconds via convenient entry points. They do not need to physically break in which would raise the chances of them being spotted and increase the risk of them leaving behind something of evidential value and they do not need to carry or find anything that could assist them in carrying out these crimes.
Secondly, items such as fishing tackle and bicycles appear to have been some of the most common items removed in shed breaks in the area. Some of the thefts from sheds will also be the result of sneak in thefts where similarly to houses sheds are accidentally left insecure after use during the day and overnight. It is important to lock your shed when it is not in use. If you do have such items try to take extra precautions to protect them. If items are of particular value ensure they are insured. Consider property marking these items and taking a log of what you have for insurance and identification purposes should they be stolen. Items of value can be further secured within sheds and outbuildings by chaining them to a fixed anchor point on a floor or wall or they can be locked into a metal cage or storage box to increase the layers of security. It is worthwhile to lock up your bicycle even if it is within your shed or garden - the majority of bikes are taken from private property as opposed to public places as many people would imagine. In essence public places have greater natural surveillance and we tend to lock up our items at these sites whereas at home many of us will wheel our bikes into the garden and prop up against a wall - with less natural surveillance these can be an easy items to take for an opportunist thief as they are both valuable and provide a ready made means of escape for them.
As home watch coordinators and members you will be more than aware of the above issues as they are regularly highlighted. However, these types of crimes continue to occur throughout the area as a whole so can I ask you to reiterate this message as June approaches and also share with friends and family members.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Bogus call reminder
As nights get lighter there can be an increase in the number of people who may try and call at your doorstep. Darker nights make many people feel more vulnerable and they are more reluctant to open their door but this can become less of a concern during the summer, allowing cold callers to work later into the evenings with a better chance of someone opening their door.
It is therefore a worthwhile time to remind members that they should refrain from buying any goods and services from their doorstep. Ideally, if someone knocks at your property, take a look who it is through a spy-hole or window prior to opening the door if possible, if you don't recognise them keep your door shut. Although this may appear rude, by keeping your door closed you are protecting yourself and your property as the caller does not get the chance to start their pitch and the door creates a secure barrier between them and you. Don't worry if someone sees you checking and knock several times, remember it is your front door and your choice if you open it.
People who are trying to sell goods and services will normally do so in a couple of ways. They will offer their credentials as being part of a legitimate company and proceed to offer you goods and services, often with special on the spot deals. It is very hard during a brief door step exchange to ascertain if someone is genuine - all callers, whether genuine or not, will have a well rehearsed sales pitch and are often good at delivering this and those that are not genuine are very believable. If you require any goods and services find your own companies by taking recommendations, getting and comparing several quotes and looking for companies accredited under trade awards. This also gives you chance to think about and research which option is suitable for you as opposed to being pressured into an on the spot decision on your doorstep. They may also try and sell you goods by means of making you sympathetic towards them such as in the case of people claiming to be ex offenders trying to reform or individuals stating they have a disability and are trying to sell goods to support themselves - these individuals are not genuine but have stories designed to illicit sympathy and therefore make a sale.
Such callers can be quite mobile and can circulate around the county with examples cropping up throughout of Cheshire. Two recent good examples to be mindful of are as follows - both happening within Cheshire East area on 09/05/2011 at approx 14:45.
•In the Lear Drive area of Crewe a resident noticed 2 males knocking on doors on both sides of the street in hi-vis jackets with tanned complexions in their early 20’s. When challenged as to what they were doing they claimed that they were offering gardening services but had no ID or paperwork on them. They claimed that their van was parked around the corner out of sight.
•In the Sadler’s Close area of Holmes Chapel a male was reported as knocking on doors trying to sell paintings to residents. He passed a note to householders who opened their doors claiming to be deaf and dumb. He was reported as acting in a suspicious manner, loitering around the area which has a number of elderly residents by the caller.
If you notice anything out of the ordinary or suspicious in your area that causes you concern please contact the police directly via 0845 458 0000 to report at the time.
It is therefore a worthwhile time to remind members that they should refrain from buying any goods and services from their doorstep. Ideally, if someone knocks at your property, take a look who it is through a spy-hole or window prior to opening the door if possible, if you don't recognise them keep your door shut. Although this may appear rude, by keeping your door closed you are protecting yourself and your property as the caller does not get the chance to start their pitch and the door creates a secure barrier between them and you. Don't worry if someone sees you checking and knock several times, remember it is your front door and your choice if you open it.
People who are trying to sell goods and services will normally do so in a couple of ways. They will offer their credentials as being part of a legitimate company and proceed to offer you goods and services, often with special on the spot deals. It is very hard during a brief door step exchange to ascertain if someone is genuine - all callers, whether genuine or not, will have a well rehearsed sales pitch and are often good at delivering this and those that are not genuine are very believable. If you require any goods and services find your own companies by taking recommendations, getting and comparing several quotes and looking for companies accredited under trade awards. This also gives you chance to think about and research which option is suitable for you as opposed to being pressured into an on the spot decision on your doorstep. They may also try and sell you goods by means of making you sympathetic towards them such as in the case of people claiming to be ex offenders trying to reform or individuals stating they have a disability and are trying to sell goods to support themselves - these individuals are not genuine but have stories designed to illicit sympathy and therefore make a sale.
Such callers can be quite mobile and can circulate around the county with examples cropping up throughout of Cheshire. Two recent good examples to be mindful of are as follows - both happening within Cheshire East area on 09/05/2011 at approx 14:45.
•In the Lear Drive area of Crewe a resident noticed 2 males knocking on doors on both sides of the street in hi-vis jackets with tanned complexions in their early 20’s. When challenged as to what they were doing they claimed that they were offering gardening services but had no ID or paperwork on them. They claimed that their van was parked around the corner out of sight.
•In the Sadler’s Close area of Holmes Chapel a male was reported as knocking on doors trying to sell paintings to residents. He passed a note to householders who opened their doors claiming to be deaf and dumb. He was reported as acting in a suspicious manner, loitering around the area which has a number of elderly residents by the caller.
If you notice anything out of the ordinary or suspicious in your area that causes you concern please contact the police directly via 0845 458 0000 to report at the time.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Update from the homewatch desk
We have seen a dramatic drop in sneak in/distraction burglaries, but we still need reports of any suspicious activity that you may be seeing in your areas. Thank you for any information that you have already passed onto us.
On another note we have had numerous reports of members of the public having bogus phone calls off unknown people stating that there is a fault with their home computer. The conversation then goes on to try and get the person on the other end of the phone to try and turn their computer on etc. Please do not disclose any of your passwords etc as calls of this nature are not always genuine.
If you have any doubts about the company that may contact you then please contact the Trading Standards. I have also attached some information about trying to reduce the number of nuisance phone calls.
How to Stop Unwanted Telephone Calls
1.) Register with TPS
Under government regulation it is illegal for UK companies to call any individual who has indicated that they don't want the calls. To do this you need to join the telephone preference service register. It takes about 28 days after registering to start working.
Website: www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/
Telephone: 0800 398 893
2.) Randomly Generated Calls
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to stop all phone calls. Some calls can be the product of random number generators where companies call lots of numbers and hope to get through. If you are experiencing issues with this the best advice is to record the telephone number of the company down and report them to the regulator - Phone Pay Plus to get the number blocked.
Website: www.phonepayplus.org.uk
3.) Third Party Contacts
Our phone number can also get out into the wider world via whilst registering for websites, doing surveys, filling in competitions etc. Most companies will have a standard - if you do/don't want your information to be shared with carefully selected third parties please tick/untick this box added to anywhere that you provide your personal details. The majority ask that you tick if you want to have your details shared but some will have the opposite. As such out of habit if you only take a cursory glance you can fall foul of this and actually be giving them permission to circulate your information. It is important to carefully read these every time to ensure that you are keeping your details private.
If you are persistently receiving calls from a particular company it is perfectly acceptable to ask that they remove your contact details from their database.
4.) Silent Phone Calls
Silent calls are usually generated by automatic calling equipment in call centres. To reduce the number of silent calls received can register with the Silent Callguard Service, but you need to re-register with them every 12 months.
Website: www.silentguard.co.uk
If calls continue you can complain via Ofcom taking the following steps:
1.) After the call use '1471' to see if a number is provided
2.) If the number is withheld note the time and date and contact your telephone providers 'nuisance call department'
3.) Complain to Ofcom. Website: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/silent-calls
On another note we have had numerous reports of members of the public having bogus phone calls off unknown people stating that there is a fault with their home computer. The conversation then goes on to try and get the person on the other end of the phone to try and turn their computer on etc. Please do not disclose any of your passwords etc as calls of this nature are not always genuine.
If you have any doubts about the company that may contact you then please contact the Trading Standards. I have also attached some information about trying to reduce the number of nuisance phone calls.
How to Stop Unwanted Telephone Calls
1.) Register with TPS
Under government regulation it is illegal for UK companies to call any individual who has indicated that they don't want the calls. To do this you need to join the telephone preference service register. It takes about 28 days after registering to start working.
Website: www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/
Telephone: 0800 398 893
2.) Randomly Generated Calls
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to stop all phone calls. Some calls can be the product of random number generators where companies call lots of numbers and hope to get through. If you are experiencing issues with this the best advice is to record the telephone number of the company down and report them to the regulator - Phone Pay Plus to get the number blocked.
Website: www.phonepayplus.org.uk
3.) Third Party Contacts
Our phone number can also get out into the wider world via whilst registering for websites, doing surveys, filling in competitions etc. Most companies will have a standard - if you do/don't want your information to be shared with carefully selected third parties please tick/untick this box added to anywhere that you provide your personal details. The majority ask that you tick if you want to have your details shared but some will have the opposite. As such out of habit if you only take a cursory glance you can fall foul of this and actually be giving them permission to circulate your information. It is important to carefully read these every time to ensure that you are keeping your details private.
If you are persistently receiving calls from a particular company it is perfectly acceptable to ask that they remove your contact details from their database.
4.) Silent Phone Calls
Silent calls are usually generated by automatic calling equipment in call centres. To reduce the number of silent calls received can register with the Silent Callguard Service, but you need to re-register with them every 12 months.
Website: www.silentguard.co.uk
If calls continue you can complain via Ofcom taking the following steps:
1.) After the call use '1471' to see if a number is provided
2.) If the number is withheld note the time and date and contact your telephone providers 'nuisance call department'
3.) Complain to Ofcom. Website: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/silent-calls
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tax refund email bank reminder
In the last couple of weeks I have received a large number of phishing emails into both my work and personal email in-boxes. Several purporting to be from various banks and one claiming to be from HM Revenues and Customs in relation to a tax refund.
Information has been sent out about various types of these emails in the past. However, in view of the fact that there seems to be a number of these floating around at present I thought it worthwhile to send out a general reminder email for members and circulation. Some of these emails are very basic and extremely unbelievable in their make up but others can appear to be very realistic (in terms of design and web address sent from) and someone could fall foul of one of these if caught at the right moment. As home watch members I am sure that you are very security conscious about such emails but please try and share this message with friends and family, particularly if some are less familiar with the internet or are vulnerable.
Please remind contacts that they should never respond to any email that tries to get them to provide any personal or financial details via an email or by clicking a link to another page. Various threats (your account will be shut down/suspended) and sweeteners (you are due a tax refund) will be offered to try and encourage people to provide their details in whatever way possible. Genuine financial organisations will never try and obtain your details in this manner. They will never ask for your password. If you receive an email of this nature you can be confident that it is a hoax.
Sometimes, people are concerned that an email may be genuine - if it is one of the more well designed ones. If in any doubt or you have concerns find a contact yourself for the Customer Services Department of the organisation in question (never open a link or follow what is already provided) and contact them directly to discuss the matter in person.
Many organisations have a facility on their websites to report suspicious or hoax emails. As such if anyone receives such emails they always appreciate them being reported directly via this facility so that they can investigate the origins wherever possible.
Information has been sent out about various types of these emails in the past. However, in view of the fact that there seems to be a number of these floating around at present I thought it worthwhile to send out a general reminder email for members and circulation. Some of these emails are very basic and extremely unbelievable in their make up but others can appear to be very realistic (in terms of design and web address sent from) and someone could fall foul of one of these if caught at the right moment. As home watch members I am sure that you are very security conscious about such emails but please try and share this message with friends and family, particularly if some are less familiar with the internet or are vulnerable.
Please remind contacts that they should never respond to any email that tries to get them to provide any personal or financial details via an email or by clicking a link to another page. Various threats (your account will be shut down/suspended) and sweeteners (you are due a tax refund) will be offered to try and encourage people to provide their details in whatever way possible. Genuine financial organisations will never try and obtain your details in this manner. They will never ask for your password. If you receive an email of this nature you can be confident that it is a hoax.
Sometimes, people are concerned that an email may be genuine - if it is one of the more well designed ones. If in any doubt or you have concerns find a contact yourself for the Customer Services Department of the organisation in question (never open a link or follow what is already provided) and contact them directly to discuss the matter in person.
Many organisations have a facility on their websites to report suspicious or hoax emails. As such if anyone receives such emails they always appreciate them being reported directly via this facility so that they can investigate the origins wherever possible.
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